Giraffe

The giraffe is an African mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant. It is covered in large, irregular patches of yellow to black fur separated by white, off-white, or dark yellowish brown background. The average weight for an adult male giraffe is 2,630 pounds, while... Read More

The giraffe is an African mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant. It is covered in large, irregular patches of yellow to black fur separated by white, off-white, or dark yellowish brown background.

The average weight for an adult male giraffe is 2,630 pounds, while the average weight for an adult female is 1,830 pounds. Giraffes range from approximately 14 feet to 17 feet tall, although the tallest male recorded stood almost 20 feet tall.

Giraffes usually inhabit savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands. However, when food is scarce they will venture into areas with denser vegetation. They prefer areas with plenty of acacia growth. They will drink large quantities of water when available, which enables them to live for extended periods in dry, arid areas. See Less